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ENVIRONMENTAL
STUDIES
&
Natural Resources
Environmental Studies, 2e
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Environment
Definition: The complex set of physical, geographic,
biological, social, cultural and political conditions that
surround an individual or organism and that ultimately
determines its form and nature of its survival.
1) All factors living and nonliving that affect an individual
organism or population at any point in the life cycle.
2) Set of circumstances surrounding a particular occurrence.
3) All the things that surrounds us.
Environmental Studies, 2e
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Environmental Science
An interdisciplinary branch of science that investigates
questions related to the human population, resources, and
damages caused by pollution and disturbance.
Environmental science is integrative and involves complex
biology, chemistry, politics, sociology, geology, agriculture,
economics.
Environmental Studies, 2e
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•Lithosphere:
Planet Earth
Crust: < 1% (Thin)
Everest: 8.85 km
Mantle, Cores
•Hydrosphere:
(oceans, sea, livers )
•Atmosphere:
~1%:
30 km (99% of air)
extends to 120 km
• Biosphere: All life
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Environment: the total of our surroundings
• All the things around us with which we
interact:
Biotic vs. Abiotic
• Living things
• Animals, plants, forests, fungi, etc.
• Nonliving things
• Continents, oceans, clouds, soil, rocks
• Our built environment
• Buildings, human-created living centers
• Social relationships and institutions
Environmental Studies, 2e
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Humans and the world around us
• Humans change the environment, often in ways not fully
understood
• We depend completely on the environment for survival
• Increased wealth, health, mobility, leisure time
• But, natural systems have been degraded
- i.e., pollution, erosion and species extinction
• Environmental changes threaten long-term health and
survival
• Environmental science is the study of:
• How the natural world works
• How the environment affects humans and vice versa
Environmental Studies, 2e
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Why We Want to Study the State
of Environment?



The need for information that clarifies modern
environmental concepts such as the need to conserve
biodiversity, the need to lead more sustainable
lifestyles and the need to use resources more
equitably.
A need to change the way in which we view our own
environment by a practical approach based on
observation and self learning.
The need to create a concern for our environment that
will trigger pro-environmental action, including
activities we can do in our daily life to protect it.
Biodiversity: The part of nature which includes the differences in genes among the individuals
of a species, the variety and richness of all the plant and animal species at different scales in
space i.E. Local, regional, country wise and global, and various types of ecosystems- both
terrestrial and aquatic-within a defined area.
Environmental
Studies,development:
2e

Sustainable
Implies the use of resources in a managed way as to provide
resources
for
future
generations.
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
Objective of This Course
•
Develop a concern for our environment.
•
Begin to act at your own level to protect the environment
we all live in.
Environmental Studies, 2e
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Scope and Importance
• We live in natural surrounding (forest, river, mountain,
etc.). Resources: renewable (forest and water) and nonrenewable (minerals and oil).
• Due to increase in population these resources are getting
depleted gradually.
• There is a need to understand make ourselves aware of
our natural assets and get concerned about our
environment and sustainable utilize the resources.
• Scope of environmental studies is very wide and nearly
covers some aspects of every major discipline (biology,
chemistry, physics, geography, resource management,
economy, etc.).
Environmental Studies, 2e
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Importance
• Water, air, soil, forests are all part of our life support
systems. Without them life itself would be impossible.
• Natural resources are limited in nature and continue to
shrink and may be get depleted if not utilized in a
sustainable manner.
• Almost every act of human beings cause some effect on
environment: solid waste, water pollution, air pollution,
soil pollution , etc. And these have ill-effect on human
health.
• Individual efforts together with the public and also
government actions are needed to protect our
environment from further more degradation and
safeguard it.
Environmental Studies, 2e
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Need for Public Awareness
• Earth’s resources are dwindling and our environment is
being increasingly degraded by human activities and
hence something needs to be done.
• Government alone cannot perform all the clean-up
functions.
• Individual/group efforts in their own every possible way
has to be made to protect our environment.
• Mass public awareness: newspapers, radio, television
strongly influences public opinion on conserving our
environment.
Environmental Studies, 2e
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IMPORTANCE OF ES
• Environment is not a
single subject
• Plastic, waste food, solid
waste byproducts…
• Air pollution leads to
respiratory problems
• Water pollution to
gastro-intestinal
diseases
• And many pollutants are
known to cause cancer.
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THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY
NATURE OF ENVIRONMENTAL
STUDIES
EnvironmentalStudies
Studies,
Environmental
, 2e2e
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Environmental Studies, 2e
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Environmental Science
« Natural Resources »
Environmental Studies, 2e
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What are natural resources?
• A natural resource may be defined as any
material given to us by nature which can
be transformed in a way that it becomes more
valuable and useful for human being or life on
earth. Natural resources sustain human life.
• Every man-made product is composed of
natural resources
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crs2e2KW
FT0
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_6M3CNZ
RkUStudies, 2e
Environmental
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For example:
wood is used for making furniture.
Yarn obtained from cotton is used for
weaving cloth. Likewise, various machine,
tools and household goods are made of
metals.
Now furniture, clothes, machine, tools
are more valuable than their raw form
i.e. raw form i.e. wood, cotton and metal,
respectively.
Environmental
Studies, 2e
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Our natural resources
•
•
•
•
•
•
water,
forest,
energy,
land,
food and
minerals.
Environmental Studies, 2e
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The rainforest in Fatu-Hiva,in Marquesas Islands is an
example of an undisturbed natural resource. Forest provides
timber for humans; food and shelter for flora and the fauna.
The nutrient cycle between organisms form food chains and
biodiversity
Environmental Studies,of
2e species.
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The Carson Fall
in Mount
Kinabalu,Malaysia is an
example of undisturbed
natural resource.
Waterfalls provide spring
water for humans,
animals and plants for
survival and also habitat
for marine organisms.
The water current can be
used to turn turbines
or hydroelectric generati
on.
Environmental Studies, 2e
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The ocean is an example of a natural resource. Ocean waves can
be used to generate wave power which is a renewable energy.
Ocean water is important for salt production and providing habitat
for deep water fishes. There are biodiversity of marine species in
the sea where nutrient cycles are common.
Environmental Studies, 2e
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Wind is a natural resource
that can be used to
generate electricity, as with
these 5MW wind turbines
in Thorntonbank Wind
Farm 28 km (17 mi) off the
coast of Belgium.
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Uses of Natural Resources
Natural Resources
Air (Wind)
Uses
Required for all living things for breathing, Use to
produce wind energy.
Animals / Plants
Provide food, cloth, shelter, medicine. Used as mode
of transport. Animal dung can be used as
fuel/fertilizer.
Soil
Used as the primary nutrient source for plants. It is
the habitat of many organisms.
Solar Light
Provide light, energy and help to plants for making
their foods
Wood / Tree
Environmental Studies, 2e
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Water
Used as construction material. Used to make
utensils, furniture and sporting equipments.
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Used in household, agriculture and transportation.
Classification of Natural Resources
• Natural Resources on the basis of Origin:
• (1) Biotic Resources:
• The Resources that are derived from the living world
(animals, plants).
• e.g., Wood, Humus, Manure etc.
• (2) Abiotic Resources
• The Resources that are derived from the non-living
world (land, water and air).
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Natural Resources on the basis of continual utility:
(1) Renewable Resources:
These resources can be replenished (refilled) by naturally.
Resources, which can be renewed along with their
exploitation, are always available for
use. Hence they are called renewable resources.
Some of these resources, like sunlight, air, wind, etc., are
continuously available and their quantity is not noticeably
affected by human consumption.
e.g., Plants, animals, solar energy, wind energy etc.
(2) Non-renewable Resources:
The natural resources that can not be replenished naturally.
e.g., Coal, minearls, petroleum, fossil fuels etc.
Their stock is limited in nature. Once they are used in
unlimited way, they cannot be easily replaced. Thus,their
exploitation at large scale will result in their fast depletion
that may cause serious problem for future generations.
Environmental Studies, 2e
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Examples of Renewable Resources:
1.solar energy
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2. Hybrid Of Wind And Solar
energy
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3. Biomass Energy
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Examples of Non-renewable Resources
COAL
OIL
NATURAL GAS
OIL SHALE AND TAR SANDS
NUCLEAR POWER
Over 85% of the energy used in the world is from nonrenewable supplies
Most developed nations are dependent on non-renewable
energy sources such as fossil fuels (coal and oil) and nuclear
power.
Industrialized societies depend on non-renewable energy
Environmental Studies, 2e
sources.
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Coal & Energy Security
Environmental Studies, 2e
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COAL
• Coal is the most abundant fossil fuel in the
world with an estimated reserve of one
trillion metric tons.
• world's coal reserves exist in Eastern Europe
and Asia considerable in United States .
• Coal formed slowly over millions of years from
the buried remains of ancient submerged
plants
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Formation Of Coal
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Types of coal
• Coal are formed due to differences in the
pressure and temperature during formation.
• Lignite coal.
about 50% carbon , highest water 50%, low
amounts of smog-causing sulfur.
• Bituminous coal
about 85% carbon and 3% water
• Anthracite coal
almost 100% carbon ,hardest form of coal.
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Use Of Coal
• Coal is used to produce 50% of the
electricity in the United States.
• used for heating and cooking in less
developed countries while rural areas of
developed countries.
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OIL
• Crude oil or liquid petroleum, is a fossil
fuel that is refined into many different
energy products.
• Oil forms underground in rock such as
shale, which is rich in organic materials.
Wells are drilled into these oil
reservoirs to remove the gas and oil.
• e.g., Gasoline, diesel, petrol fuel, jet
fuel, heating oil etc.
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Availability Of Oil
• 50 percent of the world's oil is found in
the Middle East
• Additional reserves occur in North
America
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NATURAL GAS
• Natural gas is a mixture of gases methane
ethane propane butane. It is cleanest burning
fossil fuel highly flammable and is odorless.
• propane and butane are removed from the
natural gas and made into liquefied petroleum
gas (LPG)
• Most of the world's natural gas reserves are
found in Eastern Europe and the Middle East
• natural gas is used primarily for heating,
cooking, and powering vehicles.
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NUCLEAR POWER
Environmental Studies, 2e
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Natural Resources and their
associated problem
1. Unequal consumption of natural resources
2. Producing animal food for human consumption require
more Land.
3. Our use of Natural Resources affects the
environment in many ways.
4. The lack of water is a big problem in cities, town,
villages.
5. There are variety of resources that can be explored,
and thus, contribute to the socio-economical
development.
Environmental Studies, 2e
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Major problems with Natural
Resource conservation
•Low awareness for conservation of natural resources.
•Exploitation of living natural resources for economic gain.
•Values and knowledge about the species and ecosystem
inadequately known.
•Unplanned
urbanization
industrialization.
Environmental Studies, 2e
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uncontrolled
Major Natural Resource threats
•Habitat destruction
•Extension of agriculture
•Filling up of wetlands
•Conversion of rich bio-diversity site for human
settlement and industrial development
•Uncontrolled commercial exploitation
Environmental Studies, 2e
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Exploitation of natural resources
In recent years, the depletion of natural resources has
become a major focus of governments and organizations such
as the United Nations (UN).
In the UN's Agenda 21 Section Two, which outlines the
necessary steps to be taken by countries to sustain their
natural resources. The depletion of natural resources is
considered to be a sustainable development issue.
The term sustainable development has many interpretations,
most notably the Brundtland Commission's 'to ensure that it
meets the needs of the present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Environmental Studies, 2e
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